Contributions
Abstract: P906
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: The Autonomic nervous system might be involved in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. The Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS)-31 questionnaire consists of 31 questions exploring autonomic symptoms.
Objectives: To evaluate the burden of autonomic symptoms, stratified by sex, disease course, disability and disease duration, in MS patients by using the validated Italian version of the COMPASS-31 questionnaire in a case-control design.
Materials and methods: We enrolled consecutively 209 patients (18-65 years old, no major comorbidity) referring to our tertiary MS centre and 96 healthy individuals. All patients (P group) and controls (C group) completed the COMPASS-31 questionnaire; demographic data were collected for both groups and MS history data for the P group. The COMPASS score was compared between the two groups and among subgroups of patients divided by disease duration, by means of the Mann-Whitney U test. Linear regression for disease duration and a multivariate regression analysis including EDSS score, sex and disease duration as independent variables were also performed.
Results: Mean age in the P and C groups was 44±11 and 40±13 years, respectively, with a female percentage of 67.9% (P) and 56.3% (C). COMPASS score resulted significantly higher in the P than C group (median 18.1 vs 10.1 respectively, p< 0.01; interquartile range 7.6-33.6 and 5.2-18.7 respectively) and in female than in male patients (median 22.8 vs 11.0, p< 0.01), whereas there was no difference between male and female controls (median 9.8 and 10.3). In the P group, COMPASS score increased significantly with longer disease duration (B coefficient: 0.37, p=0.003); the multivariate regression showed a strong relationship between female sex and higher COMPASS score (p=0.002) and weaker effects of disease course (p=0.062) and duration (p=0.065).
Discussion: This study suggests that COMPASS-31 questionnaire might represent a useful tool for a quick evaluation of dysautonomic symptoms in Italian MS patients. In fact it showed significantly higher COMPASS score in the P group, especially in female patients, though not to the point to discriminate patient from control in the single subject. The close correlation to disease duration, consistent with previous data, confirms that disease duration is a crucial factor for the presence and relevance of autonomic dysfunction in MS patients. Formal autonomic testing is warranted in subjects with high scores.
Disclosure:
Dr Luca Mancinelli is involved in clinical trials of Roche, Novartis, Biogen, Novartis and Teva. He has received travel grants from Biogen, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva, Merck and Roche.
Dr Federica Naldi has received travel grant from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Veria Vacchiano is involved in clinical trial of Roche and has received travel grants from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Matteo Foschi is involved in clinical trial of Roche and Biogen and has received travel grants from Biogen and Sanofi-Genzyme.
Mr Marco Ragionieri: nothing to disclose.
Dr Francesca Falzone is involved in clinical trial of Roche and has received travel grant from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Federica Pinardi is involved in clinical trial of Roche and Biogen and has received travel grant from Teva.
Prof Alessandra Lugaresi has served as a Bayer, Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis Advisory Board Member. She received travel grants and honoraria from Bayer, Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi and Teva and her institution received research grants from Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva and Almirall. Prof Lugaresi has also received travel and research grants from the Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla and was a Consultant of “Fondazione Cesare Serono”.
Abstract: P906
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: The Autonomic nervous system might be involved in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. The Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS)-31 questionnaire consists of 31 questions exploring autonomic symptoms.
Objectives: To evaluate the burden of autonomic symptoms, stratified by sex, disease course, disability and disease duration, in MS patients by using the validated Italian version of the COMPASS-31 questionnaire in a case-control design.
Materials and methods: We enrolled consecutively 209 patients (18-65 years old, no major comorbidity) referring to our tertiary MS centre and 96 healthy individuals. All patients (P group) and controls (C group) completed the COMPASS-31 questionnaire; demographic data were collected for both groups and MS history data for the P group. The COMPASS score was compared between the two groups and among subgroups of patients divided by disease duration, by means of the Mann-Whitney U test. Linear regression for disease duration and a multivariate regression analysis including EDSS score, sex and disease duration as independent variables were also performed.
Results: Mean age in the P and C groups was 44±11 and 40±13 years, respectively, with a female percentage of 67.9% (P) and 56.3% (C). COMPASS score resulted significantly higher in the P than C group (median 18.1 vs 10.1 respectively, p< 0.01; interquartile range 7.6-33.6 and 5.2-18.7 respectively) and in female than in male patients (median 22.8 vs 11.0, p< 0.01), whereas there was no difference between male and female controls (median 9.8 and 10.3). In the P group, COMPASS score increased significantly with longer disease duration (B coefficient: 0.37, p=0.003); the multivariate regression showed a strong relationship between female sex and higher COMPASS score (p=0.002) and weaker effects of disease course (p=0.062) and duration (p=0.065).
Discussion: This study suggests that COMPASS-31 questionnaire might represent a useful tool for a quick evaluation of dysautonomic symptoms in Italian MS patients. In fact it showed significantly higher COMPASS score in the P group, especially in female patients, though not to the point to discriminate patient from control in the single subject. The close correlation to disease duration, consistent with previous data, confirms that disease duration is a crucial factor for the presence and relevance of autonomic dysfunction in MS patients. Formal autonomic testing is warranted in subjects with high scores.
Disclosure:
Dr Luca Mancinelli is involved in clinical trials of Roche, Novartis, Biogen, Novartis and Teva. He has received travel grants from Biogen, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva, Merck and Roche.
Dr Federica Naldi has received travel grant from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Veria Vacchiano is involved in clinical trial of Roche and has received travel grants from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Matteo Foschi is involved in clinical trial of Roche and Biogen and has received travel grants from Biogen and Sanofi-Genzyme.
Mr Marco Ragionieri: nothing to disclose.
Dr Francesca Falzone is involved in clinical trial of Roche and has received travel grant from Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr Federica Pinardi is involved in clinical trial of Roche and Biogen and has received travel grant from Teva.
Prof Alessandra Lugaresi has served as a Bayer, Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis Advisory Board Member. She received travel grants and honoraria from Bayer, Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi and Teva and her institution received research grants from Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva and Almirall. Prof Lugaresi has also received travel and research grants from the Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla and was a Consultant of “Fondazione Cesare Serono”.